The February meeting of Manorbier Community Council was once again held at Jameston Village Hall due to the continued disruption of facilities at Skrinkle Community Centre following recent weather damage.

Among matters discussed were the following:

MATTERS ARISING

Wind turbine: The clerk provided a verbal update and handed out a one-page summary on the South East Pembrokeshire Energy Group's (SEPEG) plans for a community wind turbine in East Williamston. This followed their presentation on the matter to MCC and members of the public in January.

Clr. Calver asked whether each community council potentially covered by this project could, in future, be approached to have a turbine sited in their area.

Clr. Hughes confirmed that the presentation had not covered that possibility. In terms of the East Williamston project, three out of four farmers that had been approached had rejected the chance to host a turbine.

Clr. T. Williams asked if MCC would have to provide any 'up-front' money for the project.

Clr. Hughes confirmed that this would not be the case and added that SEPEG would be setting up an independent panel, possibly made up of all 10 local community councils, also including PLANED, to manage the financial side of the project and handle any future income distribution.

However, it was noted that detailed development, such as that being discussed on finances, could be up to two years away and Clrs. Hughes and Long re-iterated that the briefing given in January had been purely an outline of the project, for information.

Landscape Restoration Group: The clerk confirmed that the information requested by councillors at a previous meeting concerning the £2k grant payment to the Manorbier Medieval Landscape Restoration Group (MMLRG), in respect of the medieval dovecote in Manorbier, had now been received. The grant payment had therefore now been released.

Clr. Long asked about ownership of the dovecote. Clr. Hughes confirmed that the Picton Estate owned the dovecote and that support from other public bodies for the project, including CADW and PCNPA, had now been received by MMLRG.

Clr. Hughes added that Manorbier School had also been involved in putting together a project that would help the dovecote.

Clr. T. Williams asked if the funding could rightly be given to a private group, while Clr. Calver asked if Picton Estate had provided any funding.

Clr. Hughes confirmed that the clerk had spoken to the monitoring officer about the grant funding and together with the supporting documentation received from MMLRG in response to councillors' previous requests, was satisfied that grant funding could be released.

Lydstep recycling facilities: Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) had now confirmed that the concrete base for the recycling facilities at Lydstep had been laid and, despite a slight delay in getting the bins to the site on the slipway, these should be in place within four weeks.

Clr. Calver asked if the landowner's permission had been received. This was considered a matter for PCC.

Road conditions: The clerk confirmed that PCC had now asked their supervisor to inspect the issues that councillors had raised at the January full council meeting in respect of the road condition at Cob Lane, Jameston, westbound out of Manorbier Newton and at Beavers Hill, Manorbier. No date of inspection had been given.

Community notice board: The clerk reported that, following a request from Mr. C. L. Cochrane that arose in correspondence at the January meeting, he had approached PCC about their funding of a new community notice board in Skrinkle and if they would approve its suggested siting alongside the bus stop.

PCC had now confirmed that they would not fund any replacement community notice board and that MCC would need to check with PCC's planning department before any erection of a new notice board.

All were in favour of the matter being added to the agenda for the March meeting.

Skrinkle reply: The clerk reported that the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) had responded to the concerns raised by Mr. C. L. Cochrane at the last MCC full council meeting about the condition of the road between Skrinkle and the Royal Artillery Range. He read out their response which confirmed that repairs were scheduled before the end of March. PCNPA considered that they judged the surface to be safe in the short term.

PCNPA also updated MCC on other issues, including sheep and horse grazing at Skrinkle, but also including ownership of the road and had asked County Clr. Phillip Kidney to investigate adoption of the highway by PCC.

Clr. Calver proposed that MCC write back to PCNPA (Tim Jones) to say that the road was not considered safe in its current state due to the potholes, particularly in the dark, and to ask that repairs be carried out as speedily as possible. Clr. Hall seconded this proposal and all were in favour.

Beach clean: The NOMADS had reported that the beach clean of Manorbier beach that took place on December 28 last year had seen some 15 participants and 20 bags of litter collected. Councillors congratulated those who had taken part.

CORRESPONDENCE

Precept: A letter had been received from Mrs. M. C. P. Tew asking for copies of the agreed precept for MCC for 2013/14. The clerk confirmed that he had responded.

FoI request: A letter was also received from Mr. A. J. Tew thanking MCC for a previous response to a Freedom of Information request and enclosing a cheque for £1.30 as a contribution to administration costs.

New ranger: An email was received from the new south area ranger, PCNPA, Haydn Garlick, introducing himself and offering to attend a future MCC meeting.

Clr. Terry Williams proposed that the clerk invite Mr. Garlick to the next meeting to perhaps cover issues such as dog fouling, wind turbine policy, dovecote and touring caravans, tents and camper vans at Skrinkle. All were in favour.

Donation requests: Donation requests had been received from three organisations. Clr. Calver reminded members that previous policy on charitable donations had been to not donate to organisations outside the MCC area.

Clr. Cooper proposed that MCC support one of the requests and that MCC consider its policy on charitable donations at the next meeting. All were in favour.

Planning applications and other notices

Demolition of existing stores and greenhouse and erection of a summerhouse and store within walled vegetable garden at Awelon, Manorbier: Clr. Hughes had received dimensions only on the day of the meeting. Clr. Terry Williams asked if toilets had been included. This was confirmed.

Clr. Calver expressed some reservations about car parking in what was a narrow road at this location. The clerk confirmed he had received a copy of a letter of objection sent to PCNPA and read out part of it. Clr. Hughes read out details from the design and access statement accompanying the application.

After a lengthy discussion, Clr. Calver proposed that this application be accepted providing Highways were content with the car parking situation and the associated safety aspects at this location. This was seconded by Clr. Haynes, with eight in favour and two absentions.

Demolition of agricultural shed and erection of dwelling with detached shed and associated site works at land adjacent to Buttyland, Manorbier: Clr. Hall declared a personal interest. Clr. Long proposed recommending approval of this amended application and all were in favour.

Application for tree works at Lydstep Caravan Park, Lydstep. Clr. Calver questioned whether these applications were all within the boundary of MCC's area. Clr. Hall proposed that these applications be recommended for approval providing they fell within MCC's boundaries. Nine were in favour, with one abstention.

OTHER MATTERS

Update and action following Tenby Town Council's meeting on January 21 about the Minor Injuries Unit, Tenby. A copy of the note of that meeting prepared by Tenby Town Council was handed out to members. Clr. Hughes read out the set of five proposed actions agreed at the meeting.

In response to Clr. Calver's question about consultation with local GP surgeries, Clr. Marcia Kidney said that they were still awaiting discussion with the Hywel Dda Health Board on this point, although the views of Saundersfoot GP surgery were such that they preferred the MIU to be kept open.

Clr. Long asked about the summer pilot. Clr. Terry Williams asked about the rest of Tenby Cottage Hospital.

Clr. Hughes confirmed that Hywel Dda had said they would commission a pilot MIU in Tenby for the summer months (July-September) only to cater for summer tourist visitors, possibly a portable building outside the hospital.

Councillors considered that at least one of the two MIUs involved should be kept open.

Clr. Calver proposed that the clerk draft a letter to send to the CHC and Lesley Griffiths AM asking for the Hywel Dda decisions around the MIUs to be called in. This should be prepared in time for the next full council meeting, to allow all councillors to sign the letter. All were in favour.

One Voice Wales Pembrokeshire Area Committee meeting: Clr Hughes attended this meeting on behalf of MCC. Six representatives from community councils were in attendance. Clr. Hughes mentioned that the agenda covered training and a presentation from the Post Office. The Post Office had confirmed that no more closures of sub post offices would be made in Wales for the present time. Clr. Hughes also reported that he had mentioned the position on the closure of post boxes in Lydstep and the delay in opening one post box alongside the bus stop in Lydstep.

Electoral process for the two casual vacancies in Manorbier Ward: The clerk reported on the latest position and the process undertaken since the last full council meeting. No nominations had been received for the two casual vacancies as a result of the notice of election and PCC had now asked MCC to go ahead and co-opt two members.

Clr. Calver proposed that this procedure include an advertisement in the Tenby Observer. Clr. Hall seconded this proposal. Clr. Terry Williams considered that placing relevant notices in the community notice boards might be sufficient. Clr. Peter Kidney put forward a counter proposal that co-option notices be placed in the community notice boards only. Seven were in favour of this with three against.

Dog fouling on Manorbier Beach. Clr. Haynes highlighted dog fouling problems in Jameston, too. The clerk reported upon receipt of a letter and attachment from PCC about Dog Control Orders and the powers that were bestowed upon community councils in this matter.

Clr. Haynes asked the clerk to forward him a copy of this letter and attachment. Clr. Calver said this issue covered a wider area than Manorbier beach.

The clerk also read out recent responses from PCC and PCNPA about dog fouling on Manorbier beach. PCC had forwarded previous correspondence to the dog wardens team at PCC, but no further response had been received. The question of signage was also discussed and also the lack of dog restrictions on Manorbier beach.

Clr. Hughes read out an article about dog fouling in Welshpool and the local council's intention to bring in restrictions.

Clr. Terry Williams proposed that the PCNPA (Tim Jones) and PCC (Mark Elliott) be asked to attend the next meeting to discuss dog fouling and dog restrictions. All were in favour of this.

Update and next steps on Jameston Play Area project. Clr. Terry Williams reported upon his visit to Manorbier School, along with Clr. Hughes, to seek the views of pupils on their favoured play equipment. This evidence would form part of MCC's application to PCC for financial support for the project.

The head had asked children at the school to draw their favoured play equipment (such as roundabouts, basketball nets, monkey bars, etc) and to say why this equipment was favoured. This would be undertaken within the next week.

Clr. Terry Williams acknowledged that MCC would also need to get information to children that did not attend Manorbier School.

Clr. Hughes confirmed that MCC was currently looking to SMP as the preferred supplier out of the three tenders recently received, unless the amount allocated for the project increased to that originally agreed. Clr. Hughes confirmed that once information had been received from the school, it would be passed to the clerk in order to progress the grant application with PCC.

COUNTY CLR. PHILLIP KIDNEY'S REPORT

Drains in the road between Manorbier School and Manorbier railway station had recently been jetted to try and rectify the flooding problems. This stretch of road was also going to be surveyed.

PCC had confirmed that they were now in a position to lay the speed check tubes on the road entering and leaving Jameston. Councillors recommended these were laid by the Tudor Lodge and by Green Grove

Confirmation that PCC would not pay for replacement community notice boards.

PCC budgets would see big cuts over the next three years, with few large projects supported. Clr. Calver asked about on-line consultations covering future spend being sent to community councils.

PCC (southern councillors) were now looking at targeting their letters on the MIU closures to the most appropriate people.

County Clr. Kidney agreed to speak with Steven Morbey about the dog fouling problems discussed earlier in this meeting

EMERGENCY ITEM

Update on condition of Skrinkle Community Centre: Clr. Hughes updated councillors on the condition of Skrinkle Community Centre following recent heavy rain. He reported that, the previous week, two buckets of water had been mopped up and water was encroaching on the electrical heaters and noticeboards. Two suspended ceiling panels had been affected by the water damage and there was potential electrical damage. Clr. Hughes reported that builders had visited the site recently and was assured that remedial work would be undertaken.

Unfortunately, following Clr. Hughes's visit to the site on February 4, nothing had changed. Clr. Hughes had telephoned the YHA building manager and informed him that the hall would not be used until such time as the YHA had certified that it was safe to do so. Clr. Hughes said that any charges for alternative locations would need to be billed to the YHA.

Clr. Calver proposed that a letter be sent to the YHA asking them to get back to MCC when the hall was safe and fit to be used. Any issue around recovering bill payments and deducting rental payments should be left until communication had been received from YHA in this regard. All were in favour of this.

The clerk confirmed that the South Ridgeway Community Association were in contact with him about the latest position.